Self-sterilizing gloves

ABSTRACT

A self-sterilizing glove and the method of making same. The glove is uniquely constructed so that a multiplicity of strands of silver-plated yarn are concentrated proximate the outside surface of the patient contact portions of the gloves so as to effectively sterilize microbial assault resulting from contact of the gloves with a patient. With such a construction, the gloves do not need to be doffed and replaced between each patient contact and will effectively self-sterilize between each patient contact.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to clothing. More particularly, the invention concerns a novel self-sterilizing glove and the method of making same for use by care givers to reduce or prevent cross-contamination.

2. Discussion of the Prior Art

It is presently common practice in doctor's offices, nursing facilities and hospitals for the care provider to don latex gloves before nearing or touching a patient. When the care provider leaves the patient the gloves are doffed and disposed of. In an attempt to prevent undesirable cross-contamination among patients, this procedure is repeated for each patient attended to by the care provider. The practice of continuously donning and removing latex gloves is both time consuming and expensive. Further, unless this procedure is done carefully, a potentially serious spread of contamination within the patient care facility can result.

As will be more fully discussed in the paragraphs which follow, it is the drawbacks of the prior art as set forth in the preceding paragraph that are sought to be overcome by the present invention. More particularly, the thrust of the present invention is to provide a novel, self-sterilizing glove for use by care providers that can be used to treat several patients without the necessity of removing and discarding the gloves after each patient contact.

In one form of the invention, the self-sterilizing glove is provided in the form of a knit glove that is made using a principal yarn and a secondary yarn. The principal yarn may be a conventional natural or synthetic yarn, while the secondary yarn uniquely comprises a silver-plated synthetic yarn that functions as an antimicrobial material.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide self-sterilizing gloves for use by caregivers while treating patients. More particularly, it is an object of the invention to provide such gloves that can be used in place of conventional latex gloves that must be discarded after each patient treatment.

Another object of the invention is to provide self-sterilizing gloves of the aforementioned character that are uniquely constructed so that a multiplicity of strands of silver-plated yarn are concentrated proximate the outside surface of the patient contact portions of the gloves so as to effectively sterilize microbial assault resulting from contact of the gloves with a patient. With such a construction, the gloves do not need to be doffed and replaced between each patient contact.

Another object of the invention is to provide self-sterilizing gloves as described in the preceding paragraphs which are uniquely constructed so that the gloves will self-sterilize between each patient contact.

Another object of the invention is to provide gloves as defined in the preceding paragraph in which the self-sterilization action can be enhanced by momentarily elevating the temperature of the gloves.

Another object of the invention is to provide gloves of the character described in which the sterilization action can also be enhanced by elevating the humidity of the environment in which the gloves are stored between patient contacts.

Another object of the invention is to provide self-sterilizing gloves that contain no chemicals or pesticides.

Another object of the invention is to provide self-sterilizing gloves of the class described that are of a simple construction and can be inexpensively manufactured in large volume.

Another object of the invention is to provide self-sterilizing gloves that can be recycled or reused following laundering.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a generally perspective view of one form of the self-sterilizing glove of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a greatly enlarged, top plan view of the area designated as 2-2 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a greatly enlarged, cross-sectional view taken along lines 3-3 of FIG. 1.

DISCUSSION OF THE INVENTION

As used herein, the following terms have the following meanings:

The term “silver-plated yarn” as used herein means a yarn composed of synthetic filaments to which a chemical process has been applied to coat the yarn with metallic silver.

The term “plait” as used herein comprises a textile-trade term meaning to admix or include a secondary yarn to modify the quality of a fabric made by either knitting or weaving.

The term “plaiting attachment” as used herein means an attachment that is affixed to a conventional glove knitting machine for controlling the secondary yarn during the knitting process such that the additional yarn, in this instance the silver-coated yarn, that is plaited into the construction of the fabric lies predominantly on the patient contact portions of the glove's fabric construction.

Referring now to the drawings and particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, one form of the self-sterilizing glove of the present invention is there illustrated and generally designated by the numeral 12. As best seen by referring to FIGS. 1 and 3, glove 12 includes a patient contact or lower glove portion 14 having surfaces 16 and an interconnected back portion 18 (FIG. 3). As indicated in FIG. 2, surfaces 16 of the patient contact portion exhibit a multiplicity of silver-coated filaments, or strands of nylon yarn 20.

In accordance with one form of the method of the invention the patient contact portions 14 are constructed by plaiting a silver-coated yarn alongside a nylon yarn. As previously mentioned, glove 12 can be constructed by conventional knitting, or alternatively can be constructed by weaving processes of the character well known to those skilled in the art. While nylon yarn has proven satisfactory for the construction of the back portion 18 of the glove and for admixing with the silver-coated yarn, it is to be understood that various types of natural and synthetic yarn can be used in the construction of the glove of the present invention.

Experience has shown that gloves made in accordance with the method of the invention and having a silver content by weight of at least about 5% silver yarn will effectively self-sterilize. However, the higher the silver content, the more rapid will be the self-sterilizing action. By purposely locating the silver-plated yarn on the lower, patient contact surfaces 16 of the glove, the self-sterilizing action will be more efficacious in sterilizing microbial assault by contact with patients or with contaminated objects. In this regard, and by way of example, knitting gloves using standard glove knitting machines, such as those made by Shima Seiki Mfg., Ltd. of Wakayama, Japan, typically requires two ends of yarn to be fed. If the two yams differ, one from the other (say one is blue and the other is white) the resultant glove is likely to have a random pattern of coloration alternating the blue and the white in an irregular and uncontrollable pattern. Upon close inspection of such a glove, it will be observed that blue yarn will be located on one surface and white yarn will be located on the opposite surface in precisely the reverse random pattern. By the addition of a plaiting accessory attachment to the knitting machine the knitting of the glove of the present invention can now be accomplished in a manner such that either the inside surface or the outside surface of the knit glove will be predominantly of only one type of yarn. For example, in the case of knitting one end of uncoated yarn and one end of silver-coated yarn, the finished glove can be made with silver-coated yarn only on the outside and uncoated yarn only on the inside, or vice versa.

In accordance with one form of the method of the invention, glove 12 is constructed by interweaving a first yarn to form the back portion 18 and simultaneously plaiting a first yarn, such as a conventional nylon yarn with a second silver-coated yarn, such as yarn 20, to form the patient contact portions 14 of the glove in a manner such that the surfaces 16 of the patient contact portion predominantly comprises the second silver-coated yarn 20.

In forming the lower, patient contact portion 14 of the glove 12, a plaiting attachment (not shown) is affixed to a conventional glove knitting machine, such as the Shima Seiki Mfg., Ltd. machine, which controls the secondary yarn during the knitting process such that the additional, or silver-coated, yarn plaited into the construction of the fabric lies predominantly on the surfaces of the exterior portions of the glove.

In using the gloves of the present invention, the self-sterilization of the gloves (between patient contacts) may be enhanced by elevating the temperature of the area within which the gloves are stored to 37 degrees Celsius or more. The self-sterilization of the gloves (between patient contacts) may also be enhanced by elevating the relative humidity of the environment in which the gloves are being used.

Enhancement of the self-sterilizing action of the gloves can be achieved by knitting a higher concentration of silver-plated yarn near the patient contact portions of the glove.

Having now described the invention in detail in accordance with the requirements of the patent statutes, those skilled in this art will have no difficulty in making changes and modifications in the individual parts or their relative assembly in order to meet specific requirements or conditions. Such changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention, as set forth in the following claims. 

1. A self-sterilizing glove for use in treating patients, said glove, including patient contact portions having a surface and a back portion interconnected with said patient contact portions, said patient contact portions exhibiting a multiplicity of silver-coated filaments.
 2. The self-sterilizing glove as defined in claim 1 in which said filaments comprises yarn.
 3. The self-sterilizing glove as defined in claim 1 in which said patient contact portions are constructed by plaiting a silver-coated yarn alongside a nylon yarn.
 4. The self-sterilizing glove as defined in claim 1 in which said glove is constructed by knitting.
 5. The self-sterilizing glove as defined in claim 1 in which said glove is constructed by weaving.
 6. A self-sterilizing glove for use in treating patients, said glove including a back portion and a patient contact portion connected to said back portion, said patient contact portion having a surface and being constructed by plaiting a silver-coated yarn alongside a nylon yarn in a manner such that silver-coated yarn is exposed on said surface.
 7. The self-sterilizing glove as defined in claim 6 in which said back portion is constructed from nylon yarn
 8. The self-sterilizing glove as defined in claim 6 in which glove is constructed by knitting.
 9. The self-sterilizing glove as defined in claim 6 in which said glove is constructed by weaving.
 10. A method of making a self-sterilizing glove for treating a patient, said glove having a patient contact portion having a surface and an interconnected back portion, comprising the steps of interweaving a first filament to form the back portion and simultaneously plaiting a second filament with a second silver-coated filament to form the patient contact portion in a manner such that the surface of the patient contact portion predominantly comprises said second silver-coated filament.
 11. The method as defined in claim 10 in which said first filament comprises nylon.
 12. The method as defined in claim 10 in which said second filament comprises nylon. 